The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-09-02

rHK SLEEP OF A WOMAN IN. JOLIET
FRIGHTENING A PIoUs OLD
IRIsIIwoMAN.

The case Of Mrs. Herbert, the cata-
leptic of st. Josephs hospital, Joliet,
ILL.,, appears to battle the medical men.
For 2l9 days she has slept, and all the
ingenuity and skill that have been
brought to bear to bring her back to
consciousness have been unavailing.
She has wasted away until now she is
almost phantom. She rarely moves
a muscle. The sleeper gave every
body surprise Monday, 22nd inst.
Mrs. Burns, who knew Mrs Herbert
before her catalepsy, occupies the same
ward with her, and was left alone for
time with the sleeper. Sister Bar
bara, hearing an alarm from that ward,
hastened thither and found Mrs.
Burns crouched upon the floor, cross
ing herself vigorously and in state
of great excitement. When question:
ed she told the following story of her
experience with Mrs. Herbert:
'Lord help me, but l thought I'd
have fit when | saw the lids of her
eyes roll up and she lookin' at me wild
all her might, as If she'd look hole
through me body. When she seen
how bad was scared she set up q
laughin' and thin, before could get
word in edgeways, she begin to rattle
away about her reighbors as fast as
horse could trot. The sound of her
voice was so sharp that it gave me
pain in me ears, and shook me hand
at her by way of biddin her stop her
clatter, but she KEEP right on lex she
was wound up fur month. At last
she stopped long enough to take her
breath when axed why it was she
didn't speak to her children whin they
came to see her t'other day. Wud ye
believe 1t? The minute put that TO
her she snapped her eyes shut lex two
traps and her jaws went together like
bang. Divil the word more could | get
ont of her, and so / called to Sister
Barbara and towld her just what I'm
telling ye now / haven't got over the
fright it's given me yet, and if it wasn't
that have the rheumatics SO bad in
me legs Id hev been out of the room
the moment she opened her eyes"
DIR. Ward, the physician who has
attended Mrs. Herbert closely, had
similar experience with her about two
months ago. She had then been asleep
three months. One day he observed
that the pose of the women's head in
dicated that she had been leaning for
ward and had quickly Strengthened it
up as he entered the room. Her hands
were extremely cold and her lips deep
purple. Her face was as pallid as
death. The doctor told her to stand
up. She did not move until he touch
ed her shoulder, when she Immediately
stood up az requested, her arms hang
ing lifeless at her sides. The doctor
then had small footstool placed in
her path, and then said:
"Now, Mrs. Herbert, we will take
our morning walk
cit may have been imagination"
said the doctor, "but l thought l saw
the suggestion of a smile play about
the corners of her mouth as l spoke to
her. However, holding her hand in
mine ] led the way TO the centre of the
room, where Sister Barbara had placed
the tootstool, and as we neared it l
quickened the pace somewhat and Mrs.
Herbert tripped over it and would GER
tainly have fallen had l not been there
to catch her. As she Strengthened her.
self up she opened her O. yes for mo-
ment only and then burst out laughing.
1t seemed to be hysterical laugh, but
she was over il in moment and she
became apparently as insensible as ever
to any physical emotion from that day
until yesterday, when she Is alleged to
have talked at length to Mrs. Burns.
1t is certain that she is now as fast
asleep as ever, and it is grave ques-
ton whether her next awakening,
should the interregnum of apathy be
extended to the same period as has been
noted in the past, will not be in another
world"
Mrs. Herbert receives only about
enough food daily to sustain life in a
bird, the doctors say, and it is their
opinion that she cannot long live in her
present condition.-La'acGSter H9teJti.
Qe1lcef.